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EP1726483B1 - Outer rear-view mirror unit for a motor-vehicle with shape memory actuating means - Google Patents

Outer rear-view mirror unit for a motor-vehicle with shape memory actuating means Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1726483B1
EP1726483B1 EP05425379A EP05425379A EP1726483B1 EP 1726483 B1 EP1726483 B1 EP 1726483B1 EP 05425379 A EP05425379 A EP 05425379A EP 05425379 A EP05425379 A EP 05425379A EP 1726483 B1 EP1726483 B1 EP 1726483B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mirror
support
motor vehicle
switching device
control lever
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Not-in-force
Application number
EP05425379A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1726483A1 (en
Inventor
Francesco Butera
Stefano Alacqua
Alessandro Zanella
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA
Original Assignee
Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to AT05425379T priority Critical patent/ATE374131T1/en
Application filed by Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA filed Critical Centro Ricerche Fiat SCpA
Priority to ES05425379T priority patent/ES2293520T3/en
Priority to EP05425379A priority patent/EP1726483B1/en
Priority to DE602005002636T priority patent/DE602005002636T2/en
Priority to US11/433,691 priority patent/US7318649B2/en
Priority to JP2006144261A priority patent/JP4713402B2/en
Priority to CNB200610087900XA priority patent/CN100554037C/en
Publication of EP1726483A1 publication Critical patent/EP1726483A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1726483B1 publication Critical patent/EP1726483B1/en
Not-in-force legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R1/00—Optical viewing arrangements; Real-time viewing arrangements for drivers or passengers using optical image capturing systems, e.g. cameras or video systems specially adapted for use in or on vehicles
    • B60R1/02—Rear-view mirror arrangements
    • B60R1/06—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior
    • B60R1/062—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position
    • B60R1/07—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators
    • B60R1/072—Rear-view mirror arrangements mounted on vehicle exterior with remote control for adjusting position by electrically powered actuators for adjusting the mirror relative to its housing

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an outer-rearview-mirror unit for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a mirror body, provided with a base designed to be mounted on the outer surface of a motor vehicle, adjacent to a side window, a support for a reflecting plate mounted oscillating in the mirror body, and an electrical switching device with a number of positions, which controls electrical supply of a plurality of shape-memory wires connected to the oscillating support, for controlling oscillation of the oscillating support in order to orient the reflecting plate.
  • the purpose of the present invention is to provide a rearview-mirror unit of the type indicated above which will have an extremely simple structure and reduced overall dimensions and which, above all, will simplify the operations of installation of the unit on the motor vehicle avoiding, in particular, any laying of wiring for connection of the shape-memory actuating means with the electrical switching device used for controlling adjustment of the mirror.
  • the subject of the invention is an outer-rearview-mirror unit presenting all the characteristics indicated above and furhter characterized in that the aforesaid electrical switching device that controls electrical supply to the shape-memory wires has a single control lever with a number of positions projecting from a support, which, in the mounted condition of the mirror, is in a position coinciding with that of the base of the mirror, on the inside of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.
  • the device according to the invention presents to the user, once installed on the motor vehicle, like those devices for adjustment of the outer mirror with manual actuation, in which a control lever for orientation of the mirror is simply provided in a position corresponding to the mirror, on the inside of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.
  • the aforesaid lever controls a plurality of flexible cables (usually three), which in turn control oscillation of the support of the reflecting plate.
  • the device according to the invention enables an electrical actuation for adjustment of the mirror. Even so, the control lever for adjustment of the mirror is provided, as in manual-actuation devices, directly on the inside of the motor vehicle, in a position corresponding to the position of assembly of the mirror.
  • the control lever of the electrical switching device is of the joy-stick type, with a neutral central position and a plurality of peripheral positions of activation of the shape-memory wires.
  • the control lever moreover has a position of mechanical activation, located beyond the position of electrical activation.
  • the lever once it has reached the first position of electrical activation, it controls a respective shape-memory wire.
  • the same wire is actuated mechanically, in a way similar to a traditional mechanical transmission.
  • the device according to the invention hence always enables adjustment of the mirror envisaging a mechanical adjustment to fall back on in the event of failure of the electrical supply.
  • control lever In the case of operation with electrical actuation, whenever the control lever is shifted in the position of electrical activation of a respective shape-memory wire, it enables supply of current through said wire, which is heated by the Joule effect and changes phase reducing its length and consequently causing a corresponding movement of the support of the reflecting plate of the mirror.
  • the reference number 1 indicates a motor vehicle provided with an outer rearview mirror 2 mounted on the driver side of the motor vehicle, on the outside thereof, in a position corresponding to the front bottom angle of the left-hand side window 3.
  • the mirror unit according to the invention will be described with reference to a left-hand mirror, it being evident that the invention is applicable in an altogether similar way to a righthand mirror.
  • the mirror according to the invention can be provided on a car as well as on any other type of motor vehicle.
  • the mirror unit 2 comprises a mirror body 4 supported by a base 5, which is fixed on the outer surface of the motor vehicle in a position corresponding to the front bottom vertex of the side window 3.
  • a counter-base 6 Fixed to the base 5 in a corresponding position inside the motor vehicle, or more precisely on the inside of the side door of the motor vehicle, is a counter-base 6 from which the lever 7 for controlling the movement of adjustment of the mirror projects.
  • a support 8 ( Figure 3) is mounted in any known way, via means not illustrated, so that it can oscillate, a reflecting plate 9 being fixed to said support.
  • the mirror body 4 can be connected to the supporting base 5 in an articulated way to enable displacement of the entire mirror body 4 between an operative position and an inoperative position rotated up against the frame of the motor vehicle.
  • the movement of oscillation of the support 8 of the plate 9 can be controlled by actuating one or more of the three shape-memory wires 10.
  • the three shape-memory wires 10 each have one end rigidly connected to the support 8 and are guided within respective sheathes 10a.
  • the control lever 7 which projects inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and is of the joystick type, has a central neutral position and three peripheral positions corresponding respectively to actuation of a respective shape-memory wire 10.
  • the lever is connected to an oscillating disk 7a, which is able to activate with its oscillation one or more of the three switches 11.
  • the drawings illustrate the contacts of the switches 11 only schematically. It will be quite evident, however, to persons skilled in the branch, how said contacts could be controlled by the lever 7 so as to be activated individually or simultaneously to generate any movement of oscillation of the plate 9 of the mirror.
  • the control lever 7 has a first position of activation A, which corresponds to activation of a corresponding electrical switch and consequently to supply of electrical current to the respective shape-memory wire 10 to enable change of state thereof. Proceeding in its rotation, however, the lever 7 can be brought up to a position B which is beyond the position A, in which it actuates in any case the movement of the plate 9 using the respective wire 10 as a simple flexible cable for mechanical transmission. Consequently, a particularly preferred characteristic of the present invention is to provide shape-memory actuating means that will be able to function also as a simple mechanical transmission in the case of failure of the electrical supply.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)

Abstract

An outer-rearview-mirror unit for a motor vehicle comprises an electrical switching device with a number of positions, which controls electrical supply of a plurality of shape-memory wires (10) that control oscillation of the reflecting plate (9) of the mirror. The electrical switching device has a single control lever with a number of positions (7) projecting from a support, which, in the mounted condition of the mirror, is in a position coinciding with that of the base of the mirror, on the inside of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.

Description

  • The present invention relates to an outer-rearview-mirror unit for a motor vehicle, of the type comprising a mirror body, provided with a base designed to be mounted on the outer surface of a motor vehicle, adjacent to a side window, a support for a reflecting plate mounted oscillating in the mirror body, and an electrical switching device with a number of positions, which controls electrical supply of a plurality of shape-memory wires connected to the oscillating support, for controlling oscillation of the oscillating support in order to orient the reflecting plate.
  • A rearview-mirror unit of the type indicated above is described and illustrated in the European patent application EP-A-0 897 831 filed in the name of the present applicant.
  • The purpose of the present invention is to provide a rearview-mirror unit of the type indicated above which will have an extremely simple structure and reduced overall dimensions and which, above all, will simplify the operations of installation of the unit on the motor vehicle avoiding, in particular, any laying of wiring for connection of the shape-memory actuating means with the electrical switching device used for controlling adjustment of the mirror.
  • With a view to achieving the above purpose, the subject of the invention is an outer-rearview-mirror unit presenting all the characteristics indicated above and furhter characterized in that the aforesaid electrical switching device that controls electrical supply to the shape-memory wires has a single control lever with a number of positions projecting from a support, which, in the mounted condition of the mirror, is in a position coinciding with that of the base of the mirror, on the inside of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.
  • In practice, the device according to the invention presents to the user, once installed on the motor vehicle, like those devices for adjustment of the outer mirror with manual actuation, in which a control lever for orientation of the mirror is simply provided in a position corresponding to the mirror, on the inside of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle. In said solutions with manual actuation, the aforesaid lever controls a plurality of flexible cables (usually three), which in turn control oscillation of the support of the reflecting plate. The device according to the invention enables an electrical actuation for adjustment of the mirror. Even so, the control lever for adjustment of the mirror is provided, as in manual-actuation devices, directly on the inside of the motor vehicle, in a position corresponding to the position of assembly of the mirror. Said solution on the one hand enables electrical actuation of the movement of adjustment and on the other hand renders the operation of installation of the unit on the motor vehicle extremely simple in so far as, unlike known solutions with electrical actuation, the member for controlling adjustment is not set at a distance from the mirror (for example, on the armrest of the door or on the central console between the two front seats of the motor vehicle).
  • In a preferred embodiment, the control lever of the electrical switching device is of the joy-stick type, with a neutral central position and a plurality of peripheral positions of activation of the shape-memory wires. Preferably, for each shape-memory wire (the typical case is that of three wires) the control lever moreover has a position of mechanical activation, located beyond the position of electrical activation. In other words, once the lever has reached the first position of electrical activation, it controls a respective shape-memory wire. Once it has exceeded said position and has reached the position of mechanical actuation, the same wire is actuated mechanically, in a way similar to a traditional mechanical transmission. The device according to the invention hence always enables adjustment of the mirror envisaging a mechanical adjustment to fall back on in the event of failure of the electrical supply.
  • In the case of operation with electrical actuation, whenever the control lever is shifted in the position of electrical activation of a respective shape-memory wire, it enables supply of current through said wire, which is heated by the Joule effect and changes phase reducing its length and consequently causing a corresponding movement of the support of the reflecting plate of the mirror.
  • Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the ensuing description with reference to the annexed plate of drawings, which are provided purely by way of non-limiting example and in which:
    • Figure 1 is a schematic view of a motor vehicle in which the position of assembly of an outer rearview unit is shown;
    • Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the rearview-mirror unit according to the invention;
    • Figure 3 is a perspective view which shows some fundamental elements of the rearview-mirror unit according to the invention;
    • Figure 4 is a schematic front view of a component of the rearview-mirror unit according to the invention;
    • Figure 5 is a partial view of a cross section of a detail of the mirror unit according to the invention; and
    • Figure 6 is a further view of a detail of Figure 5.
  • In Figure 1, the reference number 1 indicates a motor vehicle provided with an outer rearview mirror 2 mounted on the driver side of the motor vehicle, on the outside thereof, in a position corresponding to the front bottom angle of the left-hand side window 3. In the present description, the mirror unit according to the invention will be described with reference to a left-hand mirror, it being evident that the invention is applicable in an altogether similar way to a righthand mirror. Furthermore, the mirror according to the invention can be provided on a car as well as on any other type of motor vehicle.
  • With reference to Figure 2, the mirror unit 2 comprises a mirror body 4 supported by a base 5, which is fixed on the outer surface of the motor vehicle in a position corresponding to the front bottom vertex of the side window 3. Fixed to the base 5 in a corresponding position inside the motor vehicle, or more precisely on the inside of the side door of the motor vehicle, is a counter-base 6 from which the lever 7 for controlling the movement of adjustment of the mirror projects. Within the mirror body 4, a support 8 (Figure 3) is mounted in any known way, via means not illustrated, so that it can oscillate, a reflecting plate 9 being fixed to said support. Of course, according to the conventional art, the mirror body 4 can be connected to the supporting base 5 in an articulated way to enable displacement of the entire mirror body 4 between an operative position and an inoperative position rotated up against the frame of the motor vehicle.
  • With reference to Figures 3-6, the movement of oscillation of the support 8 of the plate 9 can be controlled by actuating one or more of the three shape-memory wires 10. In the case of the example illustrated, the three shape-memory wires 10 each have one end rigidly connected to the support 8 and are guided within respective sheathes 10a.
  • In the simplest theoretical solution, the control lever 7, which projects inside the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle and is of the joystick type, has a central neutral position and three peripheral positions corresponding respectively to actuation of a respective shape-memory wire 10. For this purpose, the lever is connected to an oscillating disk 7a, which is able to activate with its oscillation one or more of the three switches 11. The drawings illustrate the contacts of the switches 11 only schematically. It will be quite evident, however, to persons skilled in the branch, how said contacts could be controlled by the lever 7 so as to be activated individually or simultaneously to generate any movement of oscillation of the plate 9 of the mirror.
  • As illustrated schematically in Figure 6, preferably, for each shape-memory wire 10, the control lever 7 has a first position of activation A, which corresponds to activation of a corresponding electrical switch and consequently to supply of electrical current to the respective shape-memory wire 10 to enable change of state thereof. Proceeding in its rotation, however, the lever 7 can be brought up to a position B which is beyond the position A, in which it actuates in any case the movement of the plate 9 using the respective wire 10 as a simple flexible cable for mechanical transmission. Consequently, a particularly preferred characteristic of the present invention is to provide shape-memory actuating means that will be able to function also as a simple mechanical transmission in the case of failure of the electrical supply.
  • Of course, without prejudice to the principle of the invention, the details of construction and the embodiments may vary widely with respect to what is described and illustrated herein purely by way of example, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (5)

  1. A rearview-mirror unit for motor vehicles, comprising:
    - a mirror body (4) provided with a base (5) designed to be mounted on the outer surface of a motor vehicle, adjacent to a side window (3);
    - a support (8) for a reflecting plate (9) mounted oscillating in the body (4) of the mirror; and
    - an electrical switching device with a number of positions (7, 11), which controls electrical supply of a plurality of shape-memory wires (10) connected to said oscillating support (8) for controlling oscillation of said oscillating support (8) in order to orient the reflecting plate (9);
    said unit being characterized in that said electrical switching device that controls the shape-memory wires (10) has a single control lever (7) with a number of positions, projecting from a support (6), which, in the mounted condition of the mirror is in a position coinciding with that of the base (5) of the mirror, on the inside of the passenger compartment of the motor vehicle.
  2. The mirror unit according to Claim 1, characterized in that the control lever (7) of the electrical switching device has a neutral position and a plurality of peripheral positions of actuation of one or more of the shape-memory wires (10).
  3. The mirror unit according to Claim 2, characterized in that for each shape-memory wire (10) the control lever (7) has a position of mechanical actuation, located beyond the position of electrical actuation.
  4. The mirror unit according to Claim 3, characterized in that the control lever (7) is of the joy-stick type.
  5. An outer-rearview-mirror unit for motor vehicles, comprising:
    - a mirror body (4) provided with a base (5) designed to be mounted on the outer surface of a motor vehicle, adjacent to a side window (3);
    - a support (8) for a reflecting plate (9) mounted oscillating in the body (4) of the mirror; and
    - an electrical switching device with a number of positions, which controls electrical supply of one or more means for actuating the movement of oscillation of the support (8) of the reflecting plate (9);
    said unit being characterized in that said electrical switching device has a single control lever (7) with a number of positions projecting from a support (6), which in the mounted condition of the mirror is in a position coinciding with that of the base of the mirror, on the inside of the passenger compartment.
EP05425379A 2005-05-27 2005-05-27 Outer rear-view mirror unit for a motor-vehicle with shape memory actuating means Not-in-force EP1726483B1 (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ES05425379T ES2293520T3 (en) 2005-05-27 2005-05-27 EXTERNAL REAR VIEW MIRROR UNIT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE WITH DRIVING MEANS WITH FORM MEMORY.
EP05425379A EP1726483B1 (en) 2005-05-27 2005-05-27 Outer rear-view mirror unit for a motor-vehicle with shape memory actuating means
DE602005002636T DE602005002636T2 (en) 2005-05-27 2005-05-27 Exterior rearview mirror for motor vehicles with shape memory actuator
AT05425379T ATE374131T1 (en) 2005-05-27 2005-05-27 EXTERIOR REARVIEW MIRROR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES WITH SHAPE MEMORY ACTUATOR
US11/433,691 US7318649B2 (en) 2005-05-27 2006-05-15 Outer rear-view mirror unit for a motor-vehicle with shape memory actuating means
JP2006144261A JP4713402B2 (en) 2005-05-27 2006-05-24 Automotive external rearview mirror unit with shape memory drive means
CNB200610087900XA CN100554037C (en) 2005-05-27 2006-05-29 Have mirror unit after the automobile-use outward appearance of shape memory actuator device

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP05425379A EP1726483B1 (en) 2005-05-27 2005-05-27 Outer rear-view mirror unit for a motor-vehicle with shape memory actuating means

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1726483A1 EP1726483A1 (en) 2006-11-29
EP1726483B1 true EP1726483B1 (en) 2007-09-26

Family

ID=34943211

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05425379A Not-in-force EP1726483B1 (en) 2005-05-27 2005-05-27 Outer rear-view mirror unit for a motor-vehicle with shape memory actuating means

Country Status (7)

Country Link
US (1) US7318649B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1726483B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4713402B2 (en)
CN (1) CN100554037C (en)
AT (1) ATE374131T1 (en)
DE (1) DE602005002636T2 (en)
ES (1) ES2293520T3 (en)

Families Citing this family (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE602008002595D1 (en) 2008-08-07 2010-10-28 Fiat Ricerche Ergonomic support device for the occupant body, for armchairs or seats, in particular for motor vehicle seats
US20150015001A1 (en) * 2011-04-28 2015-01-15 Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V. Electric Household Appliance Door Locking Device
EP2884103A1 (en) * 2013-12-13 2015-06-17 SMR Patents S.à.r.l. Actuating device for a rear view device of a motor vehicle and rear view device for a motor vehicle
EP3098444B1 (en) * 2015-05-29 2017-07-05 SMR Patents S.à.r.l. Actuator for a rear viewing device of an automobile
US9637064B1 (en) 2015-10-14 2017-05-02 Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems Llc Apparatus and method for restoring a camera mounting to a calibrated position
CN112172673A (en) * 2019-07-01 2021-01-05 长城汽车股份有限公司 Rearview mirror adjusting system and method and vehicle

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US4372177A (en) * 1976-05-19 1983-02-08 Murakami Kaimeido Co., Ltd. Rear-view mirror control actuator
JPS5361827A (en) * 1976-11-16 1978-06-02 Koito Mfg Co Ltd Device for driving mirror
JPS5532334A (en) * 1978-08-30 1980-03-07 Yushin Seiki Kogyo Kk Automotive side mirror adjusting pushhbutton switch
JPS6069745A (en) * 1983-09-26 1985-04-20 Hitachi Ltd Data addressing method
JPS6069745U (en) * 1983-10-21 1985-05-17 市光工業株式会社 tilting mechanism
GB8418649D0 (en) * 1984-07-21 1984-08-22 Britax Geco Sa Remote control system
US5052792A (en) * 1990-04-16 1991-10-01 Mcdonough Michael J Selectively positionable rear view mirror system for vehicles with two mirror segments and control circuit cooperating with turn signal system
JPH0510092U (en) * 1991-07-19 1993-02-09 三菱自動車エンジニアリング株式会社 Automotive side mirror
JPH09202183A (en) * 1996-01-25 1997-08-05 Sony Corp Automatic mirror angle adjusting device
IT1293665B1 (en) 1997-08-01 1999-03-08 Fiat Ricerche EXTERNAL REAR-VIEW MIRROR FOR MOTOR VEHICLES WITH A MEMORY-SHAPED ACTUATOR DEVICE.
DE60320433T2 (en) * 2002-10-15 2009-06-04 Visiocorp Patents S.á.r.l. MIRROR ARRANGEMENT
US20040156129A1 (en) * 2003-02-11 2004-08-12 Diaz Elvis O. Safety rearview mirror

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2006327580A (en) 2006-12-07
JP4713402B2 (en) 2011-06-29
CN100554037C (en) 2009-10-28
ES2293520T3 (en) 2008-03-16
DE602005002636D1 (en) 2007-11-08
DE602005002636T2 (en) 2008-07-17
US20060268439A1 (en) 2006-11-30
EP1726483A1 (en) 2006-11-29
CN1880125A (en) 2006-12-20
US7318649B2 (en) 2008-01-15
ATE374131T1 (en) 2007-10-15

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